Spiffy:

Iffy:

Can they maintain a smooth frame rate with all that's going on onscreen?

Developers and publishers are taking advantage of the added power in today's game consoles and computers to create game experiences thatexcuse the clichéplay like movies. However, that's not far from the truth, because there appears to be plenty of hardware overhead for great effects and cinematic-style gameplay. Older games were shoehorned into small cartridges and even CDs, with the processor pushed to the brink just to display a few well-animated sprites; today, we get realistic facial expression, true-to-life lighting and shadows, and detailed motion-capture animation, as well as ample storage on DVD and hard drives to hold it all.

One of the games that epitomizes this trend is Atari's Shadow Ops: Red Mercury, a fast-paced action game created by veteran developer Zombie (Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Delta Force: Task Force Dagger). The title benefits from the use of Epic Games' Unreal Engine, as well as the knowledge of military tactics by Mark Long (Zombie co-CEO) through his time as a member of the Army's Special Forces.

You play as a member of the Delta Force chosen to join the CIA's Special Missions Unit pursue a substance from Russia called Red Mercury, which it's thought will be used in a modern (and incredibly destructive) nuclear weapon that it's feared will fall into the hands of terrorists. The game begins in Syria, showing a plane blowing uphowever, that's the outcome that will result if you don't make some changes. You're dropped into the world 72 hours before that, and the party begins.

The gameplay is a hectic journey through four single-player campaigns (comprised of more than 20 levels), providing a feel of what military operations must be like. You hear the shouts and commands of other soldiers around you, as well as the bullets and bombs blowing up around you. If you use a headset, you'll hear commands coming through as if you were in the field. Enemies crumble to the ground, roll over a railing or flip through the air when gunfire and grenades hit their mark, and positional damage make it all the more realistic. Dolby 5.1 and THX audio provide a vivid sound-field around your character, and the Unreal Engine coupled with Karma physics amplify the visuals. The Seattle Symphony provided backing orchestrals that change with the game action.

The standard variety of offensive gear is on hand, with over 20 weapons available. These include handguns, rifles, shotguns, machine guns and rocket launchers. You need to be adept at these weapons, because the AI enemies are more than adequate. In fact, they'll kick back grenades if you rush throwing one in their direction or sometimes one foe will jump on it to save the rest of his group. If you get into a close-quarters battle, you can engage in melee tactics, such as buttending an enemy with your rifle.

Multiplayer will also be supported, with a variety of gameplay modes available: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag among them. Four-player split-screen and System Link will get Xbox players in the same room into the action, while Xbox Live will also fill the needs of global players. Shadow Ops also supports cooperative gameplay through more than ten maps.

Shadow Ops: Red Mercury will ship on the Xbox this summer, followed by a fall release on PC. It looks like it'll be a solid challenger to the Hollywood box office when you're seeking out a heavy dose of action.